Bristol, CT vs West Hartford, CT
Side-by-side fiscal comparison · U.S. Census Bureau data (2023)
West Hartford, CT and Bristol, CT spend within 10.1% of each other per resident — $49,530 versus $44,977 — so on the headline spending-per-capita measure the two cities are effectively neck and neck.
West Hartford, CT holds the stronger Fiscal Health Score, 75/100 (grade B) against 40/100 (grade D) for Bristol, CT — a 35-point spread that puts the two in different grade territory.
West Hartford, CT reports no outstanding debt per resident in its Census filing, while Bristol, CT carries $47 per resident. Both cities pour the most per-resident dollars into the same function: education leads in Bristol, CT at $30,607 per resident and in West Hartford, CT at $36,675.
On the revenue side both lean hardest on intergovernmental transfers — 100% of total revenue in Bristol, CT and 3% in West Hartford, CT.
Summary
West Hartford spends 9.2% more per capita than Bristol ($4,553/person difference). West Hartford, CT has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (B, 75/100).
Fiscal Health Score
Key Metrics
Per Capita Spending by Department
Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Property Tax | $0 | $41 |
| Sales Tax | $89 | $1,399 |
| Income Tax | $67 | $0 |
| Intergovernmental | $20,060 | $2,341 |
| Charges & Fees | $1,528 | $0 |
| Other | $2,307 | $1,522 |
Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Fire Protection | $379 | $464 |
| Highways & Roads | $219 | $387 |
| Education | $30,607 | $36,675 |
| Public Welfare | $1,237 | $1,942 |
| Health | $413 | $505 |
| Hospitals | $270 | $539 |
| Parks & Recreation | $777 | $1,675 |
| Housing | $3,405 | $2,852 |
| Sewerage | $112 | $0 |
| Utilities | $2,175 | $17 |
| Other | $5,384 | $4,475 |
Compare More Cities
Source: Census Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, 2026.